Overview
The Flow Control Trainer provides a closed-loop flow control system where a PID controller manipulates a control valve to maintain a set liquid or gas flow rate in a pipeline. A flow transmitter (orifice plate, electromagnetic, or Coriolis) measures the actual flow rate and provides the process variable signal to the controller. Students study the fast dynamics of flow control loops, implement cascade control (where flow is the inner (secondary) loop), and compare the performance of different flow sensors. The trainer demonstrates why flow loops are typically tuned with high gain and short integral time due to fast process dynamics and are commonly cascaded under pressure, level, or temperature controllers.
Specifications
| Fluid | water or air |
| Flow range | 0.5 to 10 LPM (liquid) or 10 to 100 LPM (gas) |
| Flow sensor | orifice plate or electromagnetic |
| Transmitter | 4 to 20 mA |
| Control valve | pneumatic globe valve |
| Controller | PID, standalone |
| Pump / compressor | centrifugal / diaphragm |
| Power supply | 220V AC, 50 Hz |